Search

The choice of intervention for treating suprainguinal arterial disease, open bypass vs endovascular intervention, is often tempered by patient age and comorbidities. In the present study, we compared the association of patient age with 1-year major adverse limb events (MALE)-free survival and reintervention-free survival (RFS) rates among patients undergoing intervention for suprainguinal arterial disease. The Vascular Quality Initiative datasets for bypass and peripheral endovascular intervention (PVI; aorta and iliac only) were queried from 2010 to 2017. The patients were divided into two age groups: <60 and ≥60 years at the procedure. Age-stratified propensity matching of patients in bypass and endovascular procedure groups by demographic characteristics, comorbidities, and disease severity was used to identify the analysis samples. The 1-year MALE-free survival and RFS rates were compared using the log-rank test and Kaplan-Meier plots. Proportional hazard Cox regression was used to perform propensity score-adjusted comparisons of MALE-free survival and RFS. A total of 14,301 cases from the Vascular Quality Initiative datasets were included in the present study. Propensity matching led to 3062 cases in the ≥60-year group (1021 bypass; 2041 PVI) and 2548 cases in the <60-year group (1697 bypass; 851 PVI). In the crude comparison of the matched samples, the older patients undergoing bypass had had significantly greater in-hospital (4.6% vs 0.9%; P <.001) and 1-year (10.5% vs 7.5%; P =.005) mortality compared with those who had undergone endovascular intervention. The rates of MALE (7.5% vs 14.3%; P <.001) and reintervention (6.7% vs 12.7%; P <.001) or death were significantly higher for the younger group undergoing PVI than bypass at 1 year. However, the rates of MALE (12.9% vs 14.3%; P =.298) and reintervention (12.7% vs 12.9%; P =.881) or death for were similar both procedures for the older group. Both log-rank analyses and the adjusted propensity score analyses of MALE-free survival and RFS in the two age groups confirmed these findings. The adjusted comparison of outcomes using propensity score matching favored PVI at 1-year survival (hazard ratio, 1.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-1.9; P =.003) for the older group but was not different for the younger group (hazard ratio, 0.6; 95% confidence interval, 0.3-1.0; P =.054). Among the patients aged <60 years undergoing intervention for suprainguinal arterial disease, the choice of therapy should be open surgical intervention given the higher risk of reintervention and MALE with endovascular intervention. Endovascular intervention should be favored for patients aged ≥60 years because of reduced perioperative mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Randomized trials have shown no benefit for repair of small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs), although repair of small AAAs is widely practiced. It has also been suggested that repair of large-diameter AAAs may incur worse outcomes. We sought to examine differences in patient selection, operative outcomes, and survival after elective endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) based on AAA diameter thresholds. Elective EVARs for asymptomatic AAAs in the Vascular Quality Initiative were studied from 2003 to 2017. AAAs were classified by diameter as small (<5 cm in women, <5.5 cm in men), medium (5-6.5 cm in women, 5.5-6.5 cm in men), and large (≥6.5 cm). Patient characteristics and operative factors were compared using univariate analyses and established risk prediction models. Effects of AAA diameter on reintervention and mortality were assessed using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analyses. Of 22,975 patients undergoing EVAR, 41% (9353), 47% (10,842), and 12% (2780) had small, medium, and large AAAs, respectively. Patients with small AAAs were younger and had fewer comorbidities. Consequently, patients with small AAAs were more likely to have low predicted operative mortality risk and 5-year mortality risk based on risk models (P <.001 for both). For operative outcomes, 30-day mortality was significantly different across diameter categories (small, 0.4%; medium, 0.9%; large, 1.6%; P <.001). EVAR for large AAAs had the highest rates of multiple medical complications, including myocardial infarction (P <.001), respiratory complications (P =.001), and renal complications (P <.001). In contrast, EVAR for small AAAs had the lowest rates of type I endoleak at completion and reoperation during index hospitalization, shortest operative times, and shortest hospital length of stay (P <.001 for all). Aneurysm diameter was associated with differential 1-year reintervention-free survival (92% small vs 89% medium vs 82% large; P <.001) and 5-year overall survival (88% small vs 81% medium vs 75% large; P <.001). Multivariable models showed that compared with medium AAAs, small AAAs had an independent protective effect against 1-year reintervention or death (hazard ratio [HR], 0.82; P =.003) and 5-year mortality (HR, 0.78; P =.001). Conversely, compared with medium AAAs, large AAAs carried an independent increased risk of 1-year reintervention or death (HR, 1.75; P <.001) and 5-year mortality (HR, 1.50; P <.001). Small AAAs represent >40% of elective EVARs in the Vascular Quality Initiative. Patients with small AAAs selected for repair are younger and have fewer comorbidities. Consequently, EVAR for small AAAs carries lower risk of operative and 5-year mortality. Aneurysm diameter is independently associated with reinterventions and mortality after EVAR, suggesting that AAA diameter may have an important clinical effect on outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The purpose of this study is to externally validate a recently reported Vascular Study Group of New England (VSGNE) risk predictive model of postoperative mortality after elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair and to compare its predictive ability across different patients' risk categories and against the established risk predictive models using the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) AAA sample. Methods The VQI AAA database (2010-2015) was queried for patients who underwent elective AAA repair. The VSGNE cases were excluded from the VQI sample. The external validation of a recently published VSGNE AAA risk predictive model, which includes only preoperative variables (age, gender, history of coronary artery disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cerebrovascular disease, creatinine levels, and aneurysm size) and planned type of repair, was performed using the VQI elective AAA repair sample. The predictive value of the model was assessed via the C -statistic. Hosmer-Lemeshow method was used to assess calibration and goodness of fit. This model was then compared with the Medicare, Vascular Governance Northwest model, and Glasgow Aneurysm Score for predicting mortality in VQI sample. The Vuong test was performed to compare the model fit between the models. Model discrimination was assessed in different risk group VQI quintiles. Results Data from 4431 cases from the VSGNE sample with the overall mortality rate of 1.4% was used to develop the model. The internally validated VSGNE model showed a very high discriminating ability in predicting mortality (C = 0.822) and good model fit (Hosmer-Lemeshow P = .309) among the VSGNE elective AAA repair sample. External validation on 16,989 VQI cases with an overall 0.9% mortality rate showed very robust predictive ability of mortality (C = 0.802). Vuong tests yielded a significant fit difference favoring the VSGNE over then Medicare model (C = 0.780), Vascular Governance Northwest (0.774), and Glasgow Aneurysm Score (0.639). Across the 5 risk quintiles, the VSGNE model predicted observed mortality significantly with great accuracy. Conclusions This simple VSGNE AAA risk predictive model showed very high discriminative ability in predicting mortality after elective AAA repair among a large external independent sample of AAA cases performed by a diverse array of physicians nationwide. The risk score based on this simple VSGNE model can reliably stratify patients according to their risk of mortality after elective AAA repair better than other established models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Studies have shown that language discordance between treatment teams and patients leads to worse patient outcomes, including longer hospital stays, higher rates of readmission, impaired comprehension of discharge instructions, and lower treatment adherence. Yet, there is a paucity of data evaluating the effects of language discordance on postoperative outcomes among vascular surgery patients. This study compared 30-day postoperative complications and readmissions after nonemergent infrainguinal bypass between non-English-speaking (NES) and English-speaking (ES) patients. Methods Consecutive patients who underwent nonemergent infrainguinal bypass for claudication, ischemic rest pain, and tissue loss at an urban, academic medical center between 2007 and 2014 were identified. Patients were stratified into NES or ES groups by their self-identified primary language. Crude comparisons and multivariable analyses were performed to assess the association of primary language status with 30-day wound infections, adverse graft events (wound infections, graft thromboses, or hematomas), readmissions, and Emergency Department return visits. Results The study included 261 patients who underwent an infrainguinal bypass: 51 NES and 210 ES patients. The NES patients were older (67.4 ± 9.8 vs 63.1 ± 9.9 years; P = .005) and had a higher rate of diabetes (78.4% vs 58.6%; P = .009) and a lower rate of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (5.9% vs 28.6%; P = .001). Other comorbidities were comparable between the two groups. The NES patients were more likely to be Medicaid beneficiaries (51.0% vs 21.4%; P < .001). Across all outcomes compared, crude analyses showed no significant difference between NES and ES patients. Adjusted analysis revealed that language discordance did not affect the odds of adverse outcomes of wound infections (odds ratio [OR], 1.87; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.90-3.88; P = .095), adverse graft events (OR, 1.23; 95% CI, 0.62-2.45; P = .556), readmissions (OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 0.77-2.95; P = .478), or Emergency Department return visits (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.58-2.83; P = .546). Conclusions Our study suggests that language discordance does not affect 30-day complication and readmission rates after infrainguinal bypass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the extent to which postdischarge feeding behaviors and interactions among caregiver-preterm infant dyads are associated with infant neurodevelopment at 1-year corrected gestational age (CGA).Study Design: We studied 119 preterm infants born <34 weeks gestation and <1750 g at birth, and their caregivers, enrolled in the Collaborative Home Infant Monitoring Evaluation with in-person feeding assessments according to the Nursing Child Assessment Feeding Scale (NCAFS) at 39-59 weeks postmenstrual age that completed Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition testing at 1 year CGA.Results: Mean ± SD gestational age was 29.6 ± 2.4 weeks, and birth weight was 1260 ± 320 g. After adjustment for maternal and infant demographics, gestational age at birth, discharge and birth weight, mode of infant feeding, and caregiver type during the postdischarge NCAFS assessment, overall NCAFS scores were positively associated with higher 1-year CGA Bayley mental developmental index (MDI) scores (for each 1 SD increase in overall NCAFS score, MDI increased by 2.8 [95% CI 0.7, 4.9] points). Among individual NCAFS domains, strongest effects were seen for caregiver responsiveness to infant distress, such that, compared with dyads having domain scores of 11 (highest possible score), the adjusted mean difference in MDI was 8.3 points (95% CI -15.2, -1.4) lower among dyads with scores <9.Conclusions: Caregiver-preterm infant feeding interaction and caregiver responsiveness to preterm infant feeding distress were associated with preterm infant Bayley MDI at 1-year CGA. Caregiver-infant feeding interaction may represent a modifiable factor to improve the neurodevelopment of at-risk preterm infants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Objective The frailty index has been linked to adverse outcomes after surgical procedures. In this study, we evaluated the association between frailty index and outcomes after elective lower extremity bypass (LEB) for lower extremity ischemia. Methods The American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data set (2005-2012) was used to identify patients who underwent elective LEB using diagnostic and procedure Current Procedural Terminology codes. Modified frailty index (mFI) scores, derived from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging, were categorized into three groups: low, medium, and high. Association of mFI with 30-day postoperative death (POD), myocardial infarction (MI), cardiopulmonary events (CPEs), deep tissue surgical site infection (SSI), and graft failure (GF) was evaluated. Both univariate and multivariable regression analyses—adjusted for age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists class, body mass index, and creatinine levels—were used to assess the effect of frailty on each outcome. Results Of 12,677 patients (mean age, 67.7 ± 11.1 years) identified who underwent elective LEB, POD occurred in 265 (2.1% overall). Postoperative MI, SSI, CPEs, and GF occurred in 1.6%, 2.5%, 3.1%, and 4.3%, respectively. The mean mFI of the entire sample was 0.3 ± 0.1. Adjusted odds ratio for development of any morbidity in the group with the highest mFI was 1.36 (95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.72; P =.010) compared with the low frailty group. Patients with higher mFI were more likely to develop MI and CPEs but not SSI or GF. Univariate and multivariable analyses showed a significantly increased risk of POD among those in the highest mFI tertile. Female sex and age, increased American Society of Anesthesiologists class and creatinine levels, and decreased body mass index independently predicted increased mortality. The addition of categorical mFI improved models with these variables. Conclusions Higher mFI is independently associated with higher mortality and morbidity. Preoperative mFI assessment may be considered an additional screening tool for risk stratification among patients undergoing LEB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Access to medical care, by adequate insurance coverage, has a direct impact on outcomes for patients undergoing vascular procedures. We evaluated in-hospital mortality for patients undergoing index vascular procedures before and after the Massachusetts Healthcare Reform Law (MHRL) in 2006, which mandated insurance for all Massachusetts residents, both in Massachusetts and throughout the United States. Methods The National Inpatient Sample was queried to identify patients undergoing interventions for peripheral arterial disease, carotid artery stenosis, and abdominal aortic aneurysms based on International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedural and diagnostic codes. The cohort was then divided into patients treated within Massachusetts (MA) and non-Massachusetts (NMA) hospitals. Two time intervals were examined: before (2003-2006, P1) and after the MHRL (2007-2011, P2). The primary outcome of interest included in-hospital mortality. Patients in MA and NMA hospitals were described in terms of demographics and presentation by time interval (P2 vs P1) compared using χ 2 and t -tests. Weighted logistic regression with term modeling change in the odds ratio (OR) for P2 was performed to test and to estimate trends in mortality. Time (year of procedure) and region interactions were investigated by inclusion of time-region interactions in our analyses. Subgroup analysis was performed for P2 vs P1 among nonwhite, nonelderly, and low-income patients. Results We identified 306,438 patients who underwent repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm, lower extremity bypass, or carotid endarterectomy in MA and NMA hospitals. MA hospital patients had an increase in both Medicaid and private insurance status after the MHRL (P1 = 2.6% and 21% vs P2 = 3.3% and 21.7%, respectively; P =.034). In-hospital mortality trended down for all groups across the entire study. In comparing P2 vs P1 trends, MA hospital odds of mortality per year was lowered by 26% (OR, 0.74; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.56-0.99; P =.042) not seen in NMA hospitals (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.97-1.09; P =.405). Time and region interaction terms indicated significant time trend difference in both unadjusted (P =.031) and adjusted (P =.033) analysis in MA hospitals not observed in NMA hospitals. This pattern continued when the samples were stratified by procedure. Patients undergoing vascular procedures in MA hospitals had a significantly lowered OR of mortality, with fewer patients presenting at late disease stages in P2 vs P1. Nonelderly patients in Massachusetts, who benefit from the Medicaid expansion provided by the MHRL, had a profound 92% drop in odds of mortality in P2 vs P1 (OR, 0.08; 95% CI, 0.010-0.641; P =.017) compared with the 14% drop in NMA (OR, 0.86; 95% CI, 0.709-1.032; P =.103). Conclusions The 2006 MHRL is associated with a decrease in mortality for patients undergoing index vascular surgery procedures in MA compared with NMA hospitals. This study suggests that governmental policy may play a key role in positively affecting the outcomes for patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Since the 2004 approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration of carotid artery stenting (CAS), there have been two seminal publications about CAS reimbursement (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines; 2008) and clinical outcomes (Carotid Revascularization Endarterectomy versus Stent Trial [CREST]; 2010). We explored the association between these publications and national trends in CAS use among high-risk symptomatic patients. Methods The most recent congruent data sets of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) were queried for patients undergoing carotid revascularization. The sample was limited to include only patients who were defined as “high-risk” if they had a Charlson Comorbidity Score of ≥3.0. Subgroup analyses were performed of high-risk patients with symptomatic carotid stenosis. Utilization proportions of CAS were calculated quarterly from 2005 to 2011 for NIS. Three time intervals related to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services guidelines and CREST publication were selected: 2005 to 2008, 2008 to 2010, and after 2010. Logistic regression with piecewise linear trend for time was used to estimate different trends in CAS use for the overall high-risk sample and for neurologically asymptomatic and symptomatic cases. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compare odds of postoperative mortality and stroke between these two procedures at different time intervals independent of confounding variables. Results During the study period, 20,079 carotid endarterectomies (CEAs) and 3447 CAS procedures were performed in high-risk patients in the NIS database. CAS utilization constituted 20.5% of carotid revascularization procedures among high-risk symptomatic patients, with a significant increase from 18.6% to 24.4% during the study period ( P < .001). There was an initial increase during 2005 to 2008 in the rate of CAS compared with CEA, CAS utilization significantly decreased during 2008 to 2010 by a 3.3% decline in the odds ratio (OR) of CAS per quarter (OR, 0.967; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.943-0.993; P = .002), and after CREST (after 2010), CAS utilization continued to increase significantly from the prepublication to the postpublication time interval. The odds of in-hospital mortality (OR, 2.56; 95% CI, 1.17-5.62; P = .019) and postoperative in-hospital stroke (OR, 1.53; 95% CI, 1.09-3.68; P = .024) were independently and significantly higher for CAS patients in the overall sample. Conclusions The use of CAS for carotid revascularization in a high-risk cohort of patients has significantly increased from 2005 to 2011. Compared with CEA, CAS independently increased the odds of perioperative in-hospital stroke in all high-risk patients and of in-hospital mortality in symptomatic high-risk patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The effect of preoperative malnutrition on outcomes in patients undergoing major vascular surgery is unclear. We investigated the effects of preoperative hypoalbuminemia, a marker for malnutrition, on outcomes after open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (OAR) and endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR). Methods Patients undergoing OAR or EVAR were identified in the 2005 to 2012 American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database and stratified into three groups: normal albumin (serum albumin >3.5 g/dL), moderate hypoalbuminemia (2.8-3.5 g/dL), and severe hypoalbuminemia (<2.8 g/dL). Multivariable analyses were performed to assess the association of preoperative hypoalbuminemia with 30-day morbidity and mortality. Results We identified 15,002 patients with a recorded preoperative serum albumin who underwent OAR (n = 4956) or EVAR (n = 10,046). Patients in both cohorts with hypoalbuminemia had a higher burden of comorbidity. In OAR patients, multivariable analyses demonstrated that moderate hypoalbuminemia was associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality (odds ratio [OR], 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.70) and postoperative length of stay (LOS; means ratio [MR], 1.10; 95% CI, 1.04-1.16), whereas severe hypoalbuminemia was associated with increased 30-day mortality (OR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.37-2.70), reoperation ≤30 days (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.32-2.48), pulmonary complications (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.06-1.86), and postoperative LOS (MR, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.21-1.45). In EVAR patients, moderate hypoalbuminemia was associated with an increased risk of 30-day mortality (OR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.38-2.62), pulmonary complications (OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.26-2.04), reoperation ≤30 days (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.12-1.74), and postoperative LOS (MR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.18-1.29), whereas severe hypoalbuminemia was associated with increased 30-day mortality (OR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.96-4.53), pulmonary complications (OR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.32-2.67), reoperation ≤30 days (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.08-2.19), and postoperative LOS (MR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.40-1.65). Conclusions Preoperative hypoalbuminemia is associated with increased postoperative morbidity and mortality in a severity-dependent manner among patients undergoing OAR or EVAR. Evaluation and optimization of nutritional status should be performed preoperatively in this high-risk population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To assess the association between maternal birth country and adherence to the American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep recommendations in a national sample of Hispanic mothers, given that data assessing the heterogeneity of infant care practices among Hispanics are lacking.Study Design: We used a stratified, 2-stage, clustered design to obtain a nationally representative sample of mothers from 32 US intrapartum hospitals. A total of 907 completed follow-up surveys (administered 2-6 months postpartum) were received from mothers who self-identified as Hispanic/Latina, forming our sample, which we divided into 4 subpopulations by birth country (US, Mexico, Central/South America, and Caribbean). Prevalence estimates and aORs were determined for infant sleep position, location, breastfeeding, and maternal smoking.Results: When compared with US-born mothers, we found that mothers born in the Caribbean (aOR 4.56) and Central/South America (aOR 2.68) were significantly more likely to room share without bed sharing. Caribbean-born mothers were significantly less likely to place infants to sleep supine (aOR 0.41). Mothers born in Mexico (aOR 1.67) and Central/South America (aOR 2.57) were significantly more likely to exclusively breastfeed; Caribbean-born mothers (aOR 0.13) were significantly less likely to do so. Foreign-born mothers were significantly less likely to smoke before and during pregnancy.Conclusions: Among US Hispanics, adherence to American Academy of Pediatrics safe sleep recommendations varies widely by maternal birth country. These data illustrate the importance of examining behavioral heterogeneity among ethnic groups and have potential relevance for developing targeted interventions for safe infant sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Despite vast improvement in the field of vascular surgery, elective abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair still leads to perioperative death. Patients with asymptomatic AAAs, therefore, would benefit from an individual risk assessment to help with decisions regarding operative intervention. The purpose of this study was to describe such a 30-day postoperative (POD) risk prediction model using American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project (NSQIP) data. Methods The NSQIP database (2005-2011) was queried for patients undergoing elective AAA repair using open or endovascular techniques. Clinical variables and known predictors of mortality were included in a full prediction model. These variables included procedure type, patient's age, functional dependence and comorbidities, and surgeon's specialty. Backward elimination with alpha-level of 0.2 was used to construct a parsimonious model. Model discrimination was evaluated in equally sized risk quintiles. Results The overall mortality rate for 18,917 elective AAA patients was 1.7%. In this model, surgeon's specialty was not predictive of POD. The most significant factors affecting POD included open repair (odds ratio [OR], 2.712; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.119-3.469; P < .001), age >70 (OR, 2.243; 95% CI, 1.695-3.033; P < .001), functional dependency (OR, 2.290; 95% CI, 1.442-3.637; P < .001), creatinine above 2.0 mg/dL (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.403-3.142; P < .001) and low hematocrit levels (OR, 2.157; 95% CI, 1.365-3.408; P = .001).The discriminating ability of the NSQIP model was reasonable (C-statistic = 0.751) and corrected to 0.736 after internal validation. The NSQIP model performed well predicting mortality among risk-group quintiles. Conclusions The NSQIP risk prediction model is a robust vehicle to predict POD among patient undergoing elective AAA repair. This model can be used for risk stratification of patients undergoing elective AAA repair. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine whether infants at sleep in the prone side positions are at higher risk for an extreme cardiorespiratory event compared with infants at sleep in the supine position. Study design: We used a case-control study to compare sleep position, determined with an accelerometer, in 116 infants during an extreme cardiorespiratory event with that in 231 matched control subjects (2 per case) who did not experience any extreme events during monitoring. Results: From calculation of adjusted ORs and 95% CIs, infants placed in the prone or side position were no more likely to experience an extreme cardiorespiratory event compared with infants at sleep in the supine position. We used conditional logistic regression to account for the matched design of the study and to adjust for potential confounders or effect-modifiers. Conclusion: These findings, coupled with our earlier observation that the peak incidence of severe cardiorespiratory events occurred before the peak incidence of sudden infant death syndrome, strongly suggest that the supine sleeping position decreases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome by mechanisms other than by decreasing extreme cardiorespiratory events detected by monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]